Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



F. LUTZ Dec. 19, 1933.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 7,

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F. LUTZ Dec. 19, 1933.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Feb. '7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE Union Special Maschinenfabrik, G.

Stuttgart, Germany m. b. H,

Application February 7, 1931, Serial No. 514,256,

and in Germany February 26, 1930 8 Claims. (Cl. 112-214) The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a feeding mechanism for sewing machines, and more particularly to a roller feed which assists the main feed in the feeding of the fabric.

An object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism of the above type wherein the cooperating feed rollers which draw upon the fabric as it is being stitched are disposed beneath the plane of the work support and the line of movement of the fabric over the work support during the stitching thereof. l

A further object of the invention isto provide a feeding mechanism of the above type whereinthe fabric being stitched passes around one of the feed rollers which is so disposed relative'to a work supporting cylinder that an endless band passing around the cylinder and the roller will be held stretched during stitching. 2o A further object ofthe invention is to provide a feeding mechanism of the above type wherein the feed roller within the path of travel of. the band is rotated through its contact with its companion feed roller, and is relatively small so that small tubular articles may bestitched.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism of the roller type wherein the presser roller is mounted on an arm so that it rotates freely and so that it may tilt laterally in order to maintain acontacting pressure on the fabric throughout the entire width of the feed roller. i

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a side view of ,a sewing machine embodying the improvements; i

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the upper and lower cooperating feed rollers and the immediate devices for supporting the same;

Q Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view' through the machine and showing the actuating mechanism 4 for intermittently operating the feed roller;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the fork and cooperating eccentric which aids in giving movements to the feeding devices, and

Fig. dis a detail showing the means which assists in imparting the intermittent motion to the feed roller.

i i The invention is directed to a feeding mechanism for sewing machines, and more particularly to an assisting feeding mechanism of the roller type. Thisass'isting feeding mechanism includes two cooperating feed rollers which are preferably picvidedwith V- shaped radial pro jections intermeshing with each other and bending thefabric passing between the same so as to maintain a firm gripping feed thereon. The two feed rollers are located in rear. of the work supporting cylinder containing the main feed which operates upon the fabric at the stitching point. The two feed rollers are located so that the upper roller which, is driven is disposed beneath the planepof the work support'in the region of stitching. The fabric will pass in a direct line off from the work support over this feed roller and around the same, and when a tubular article, is being stitched, it passes beneath and around the work supporting cylinder. The cooperating feed roller is intermittently 7o driven and bears against the fabric at the lower side of the driven feed roller. Thepositively driven feed vroller is actuated by a suitable intermittently operating clutch mechanism driven from the main shaft of the machine which oper- 76 ates the main feeding mechanism. The upper driven feed roller is mounted at the end of a pivoted lever which is yieldingly pressedupon by a spring so as to hold the driven roller in contact with the driving feed roller.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the so invention is shown as applied to a sewing machine which includes a supporting base 1 carrying a standard -2 which terminates in an overhanging arm 3 in which a needle bar 4 is recip- 8 rocated by aneedle lever 5. The needle lever 6 5 is oscillated by an eccentric'strap 6 cooperating with an eccentric on the main driving shaft of thenmachine. As shown, the needle bar is provided with two needles 7 and 8. The ma- 0 terial being stitched is placed upon the work 9 supporting cylinder 9 carried by the standard 2. The main shaft extends lengthwise of this work supporting cylinder. Disposed within this work supporting cylinder is a complemental stitch forming mechanism, and also a main feeding mechanism. These parts are of the usual construction and have not been illustrated.

A supporting bracket 10 is attached to the work supporting cylinder 9 by suitable bolts 11 10 and 12. Mounted on this bracket is a shaft 13 which carries the lower feed roller 14. The shaft 13 is intermittently rotated by a suitable clutchmechanism contained within a clutch drum 15. This clutch mechanism is driven by 05 an arm 16 which is slotted as indicated at 17. 1 A link 18 is pivoted at one end to a ball stud 19 which is adjustable lengthwise of the slot 1']. This link 18 is pivoted at its other end to a ball stud 20 which is adjustable lengthwise in a slot no 21 in an arm 22. The arm 22 is attached to the shaft 23. This shaft 23 is mounted in arms one of which is indicated at 24, and said arms are fixed to a shaft 25 mounted in suitable bearings on the work supporting cylinder. Fixed to the shaft 25 is a yoke 26 (see Fig. 5). This yoke cooperates with an eccentric 27 on the main shaft 28. As the main shaft rotates, the shaft 25 will oscillate, and through the arms 24, raise and lower the shaft 23. The shaft 23 supports the main feed dog and the raising and lowering of the shaft raises and lowers the feed dog.

Rigid with the arm 22 is a laterally projecting member 29 carrying a pin 30. Cooperating with a crank 31 on the main shaft 28 is a link 32 which is engaged by thepin 30. As the main shaft rotates, the crank 31 through the pin will oscillate the arm 22, and this, through the link 18, will impart intermittent driving movements to the clutch drum which in turn intermittently turns the driving feed roller 14. The shaft 23 carries the main feed dog 49. When the shaft is oscillated it imparts feeding movements to the feed dog. Its oscillations are imparted to the shaft through the crank 31, link 32 and pin 30. It will thus be seen that the parts operating the clutch drum also impart feeding movements to the main feed and therefore any adjustment which is given to the stroke of the main feed, will likewise be given to the feed roller 14.

. Cooperating with the feed roller 14 is a driven feed roller 33. The driven feed roller 33 is mounted at the end of a lever 34 which is fulcrumed at 35 on the bracket carrying the main feed roller. At the extreme inner end' of the lever .34 there is an eye 36 to which a treadle may be attached for swinging the lever to lift .the upper feed roller. A spring 37 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, normally raises the righthand end of the lever 34, and thus yieldingly forces the feed roller 33 into engagement with the feed roller 14 or the fabric passing between the -same. The right-hand end of the lever 34 is also depressed .for lifting the feed roller by means. of a hand-operated lever 38 which is pivoted at 39 and is provided with a camAO adapted to engage the upper face of the lever 34 and force the right-hand end thereof downward.

.The upper. feed roller 33 is mounted on a sleeve 41 which is provided with a flange 42.at one. end thereof. .A cap plate 43 attached to the other end thereof forms a bearing space in which the feed roller freely rotates on the sleeve 41.

' .The sleeve 41 is mounted on a transverse pivot portions 46.

.pin 44 carried at the outer end of the'arm 34. .The section 34 of the arm which projects into the sleeve is reduced so that the sleeve is free to oscillate on the pin connection 44 to the arm. This provides a mounting for the upper feed rollerwhich permits it to rotate freely and to also tilt laterally in order to maintain a bearing engagement with the fabric throughout the entire width of the roller, regardless of variation in the thickness of the fabric laterally of the seam. The lower feed roller 14 is fixed to the shaft 13 which is mounted in a bearing sleeve 45 in the bracket 10, and thisshaft 13 is intermittently rotated'in the manner stated above. Both .of the feed rollers as shown are provided with V-shaped radially projecting fabric engaging These fabric engaging portions intermesh in their gripping'contact upon the fabric.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, a fabric F is shown as being stitched. The fabric passes underneath the presser foot 47 carried by a presser bar 48 of the usual construction. The cylindrical bed is provided with a flat fabric engaging portion forming a substantially horizontal work engaging face. It is on this face that the fabric is pressed by the presser foot, and the usual feed dog 49 engages the fabric directly beneath this presser foot. The fabric being stitched as illustrated in the drawing, is tubular. It encircles the work supporting arm and the upper feed roller 33. It will be firmly gripped between the feed rollers and positively drawn across the work support beneath the presser foot.

It will be noted that the upper feed roller is made smaller than the lower one, and also that it is located closer to the work supporting cylinder. This provides a construction of work support and feeding devices that may be used for stitching small tubular articles, such as hosiery. The elastic tape when stitched to the fabric may be stretched about the work supporting cylinder and the upper feed roller and held stretched while it is being stitched. When the feed rollers are disposed in the manner shown in the drawings, there is no obstruction to the view in rear of the stitching point, and furthermore, the fabric as it passes from beneath the presser foot is led tangentially on to the upper feed roller and around the same which makes a very efficient drawing means for pulling the fabric as it is stitched. The feed roller being mounted so that it may tilt laterally, insures that a positive firm grip will be had on the fabric'throughout the entire width of the feed rollers.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i sl. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a work support, a main feeding mechanism located therein and a roller feed associated therewith including a positively rotated feed roller and a driven feed roller yieldingly bearing-thereagainst, said feed rollers being disposed in rear of the main feeding mechanism and below the plane of the work support whereby the fabric passing over the work "support may be passed over and around one of the feed rollers and thence between said feed rollers.

2. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a cylindrical work support, a main feeding mechanism located therein, a bracket carried by said cylindrical work support at the rear side thereof, a roller feed mounted'on said bracket including a positively rotated feed roller and a driven feed roller yieldingly bearing thereagainst, said feed rollers being disposed below the plane of the work support whereby the fabric passing over the work support maybe passed over and around one of the feed rollers and'thence between said feed rollers.

3. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a work support, a main feeding mechanism located therein and a roller feed associated therewith including a positively rotated'feed roller and a driven feed roller yieldingly' bearing thereag'ainst, said feed rollers'being dispose d in rear of the main feeding mechanism and below the plane of the work support 1,940,358 whereby the fabric passing over the work support may be passed over and around one of the feed rollers and thence between said feed rollers, said feed rollers having intermeshing V-shaped radial projections for bending and gripping the fabric passing therebetween.

4. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a cylindrical work support, a main feeding mechanism located therein, a bracket carried by said cylindrical'work support at the rear side thereof, a roller feed mounted on said bracket including a positively rotated feed roller and a driven feed roller yieldingly bearing thereagainst, said feed rollers being disposed below the plane of the work support whereby the fabric passing over the work support may be passed over and around one of the feed rollers and thence between said feed rollers, said feed rollers having intermeshing V-shaped radial projections for bending and gripping the fabric passing therebetween.

5. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a cylindrical work support, a main feeding mechanism located therein, a roller feed associated with the main feeding mechanism and including a positively rotated feed roller and a driven feed roller yieldingly bearing thereagainst, said feed rollers being disposed in rear of the cylindrical work support and below the plane of the work support whereby a tubular article may be stretched around the cylindrical work support and one of the feed rollers.

6. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a work support, a main feeding mechanism located therein, a roller feed associated therewith including a positively rotated feed roller and a driven feed roller, a pivoted lever extending in a plane at right angles to the line of feed, and means for connecting said driven feed roller to said lever so that said roller is free to rotate on said lever about an axis extending in the general direction of the lever and to tilt laterally relative to the line of feed.

7. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a work support, a positively operated. feeding device, a feed roller cooperating therewith, a lever, means for pivotally supporting said lever, a sleeve pivotally supported at the end of the lever so as to rock about an axis at right angles to the axis of the roller, said roller being rotatably mounted on said sleeve.

8. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a work support, a positively operated feeding device, a feed roller cooperating therewith, a lever, means for pivotally supporting said lever, a sleeve pivotally supported at the end of the lever so as to rock about an axis at right angles to the axis of the roller, said roller being rotatably mounted on said sleeve, and a spring adapted to engage said lever for forcing said feed roller into contact with the material passing between the feed roller and the cooperating feeding device.

FRIEDRICH LUTZ. 

